Our training ship is finally home. The campus on Academy Drive is once again complete - as it should be. After many long weeks of 24/7 work caring for and feeding the thousands of FEMA workers who were assisting victims of Hurricane Sandy in Staten Island, NY, the officers and crew of the Kennedy have returned home safely - just in time for Christmas.

Before they departed New York Saturday morning, David Matsuda, the US Maritime Administrator, presented Captain Bushy and all of the members of the Kennedy crew with the Merchant Marine Medal (bling!) for their stalwart, steadfast service to the people of New York, hit so hard by the terrible storm. When the call for support came in early November, the officers and crew all volunteered for the task, not knowing how long they might be away. They missed many evenings and weekends with loved ones, even giving up Thanksgiving with their families in order to give a Thanksgiving celebration to the FEMA workers who were working hard to put life back together for storm victims. Because of the efforts of the offices and crew of Kennedy, FEMA workers responding to the emergency, had a safe, warm place to sleep and good food to eat, close to the neighborhoods they were assisting. The proximity of the ship negated long commutes to the disaster site from crowded motels, hours from the work site, saving hundreds of thousands of man-hours and contributing to the efficiency of the entire operation.

The Academy staff and student body are delighted to welcome friends and co-workers home for the holidays and thank them for their service to the communities so hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. This mission of inspiration brings MMA’s commitment to community service to an entirely new level.